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Other Pests

BITING PESTS

BED BUGS Bed bugs are reddish brown in color and are wingless. They are roughly oval in shape and become swollen after a blood meal. Bed bugs are dorsoventrally flattened (thin), and this means that they can hide in narrow cracks and crevices. They are also fastrunners. Bed bugs feed on blood and have mouthparts that are especially adapted for piercing skin. Like most blood sucking arthropods, they inject saliva during feeding, which has anticoagulant properties. Bed bugs respond to the warmth and carbon dioxide of a host and quickly locate a suitable feeding site. Most feeding occurs at night, and they generally seek shelter during the day. However, bed bugs are opportunistic and will bite in the day especially if starved for some time. They can survive for long periods without feeding. While their preferred host is human, they will feed on wide variety of other warm-blooded animals including rodents, rabbits, bats, and even birds. Being a cryptic species, bed bugs shelter in a variety of dark locations; mostly close to where people sleep. These include cracks and crevices such as mattress seams, sheets, floorboards, behind paintings, in carpets, behind skirting, within bed frames and other furniture, and behind loose wallpaper. Bed bugs are often found in hotels and may move from room to room on people’s luggage. Blood spotting on mattresses and nearby furnishings is often a tell tale sign of an infestation. Bed bugs have been implicated in the transmission of a wide variety of infectious agents, although their status as vectors is uncertain. It has been suggested that they might play a role in the spread of Hepatitis B; however experimental evidence does not support this. Bed bug bites becomes itchy welts on the skin that can cause allergic reactions.

FLEAS
Small, wingless, about 1/12- to 1/6-inch long. Covered in spines with piercing mouthparts. A blood sucking parasite that attaches to a host. Larvae feed on organic debris, particularly the feces of adult fleas, which contain undigested blood. Eggs are not attached to the host. Eggs will hatch on the ground, in nests, carpet, bedding, upholstery or cracks in the floor. Most hatch within seven to fourteen days. Their bodies are shiny and reddish-brown in color. They are covered with microscopic hair and are compressed to allow for easy movement through animal fur. Fleas do not have wings, although they are capable of jumping long distances. Your home and any pets will be need to be treated as well for flea infestations. Contact your veterinarian for flea prevention for your pet’s well-being. Remember fleas can cause dermatitis, murine typhus and bubonic plague.

TICKS
Ticks vary in color by species. Adult ticks are smaller than a sunflower seed (1/8- to 5/8-inch long if engorged with blood), while nymphal (or immature) ticks are less than 1/16-inch. Common problem ticks include the American dog tick, deer or black legged tick and lone star tick. Often found near wooded and highly vegetated areas. Some species require moisture to survive. All females and males of most species feed on blood of mammals, birds and reptiles.
There are four stages in a tick’s lifecycle – egg, larvae, nymph and adult. They carry such diseases as, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

STINGING PESTS

BEES
Bees can be black or brown with red, yellow or lustrous blue stripes. Some bees are notable for their ability to collect substantial amounts of honey. All bees are hairy, a trait which is crucial to the collection of pollen. Flowers and flourishing vegetation usually indicate the presence of bees: there is no insect as important as the bee when it comes to pollination.
Many female bee species have rows of bristles on their hind legs which form a hollow basket. When the bee lands on a flower, pollen grains are combed into the hollow basket and bristles. Cross-pollination occurs when the displaced grains of pollen are distributed to the fertile pistils of other flowers as the bee alights upon them.
Although only females are able to transfer pollen, all bees are able to sip the nectar from flowers using a tongue-like organ. This nectar is their primary source of energy. Pollen is sustenance for both adult and larval bees, as it contains protein and other nutrients necessary to their survival. Bees possess an organ that converts nectar into honey, which is collected depending on the species inside the hive, or bee colony.

HORNETS
Hornet nests are composed of a paper substance derived from saliva and wood pulp. They are located within or atop trees, in attic rafters and in other covered areas. They can sometimes be found near the eaves of houses. The size of a hornet nest grows in proportion to the size of the colony. Nests may grow to be as large as basketballs through subsequent generations of workers. However, nests are only used once; worker populations perish in winter, leaving only the fertilized females to begin new colonies in the coming warm seasons. All hornet nests can be extremely dangerous to handle. Contact a pest control professional to remove any nest located near your home.

WASPS
Wasp species are categorized as social or solitary. As their name implies, social wasps live in colonies, which may number in the thousands. Within these colonies, female workers, perform all other duties within the nest. Solitary wasps live alone and rarely build nests. They do lay eggs, but their eggs are left alone to hatch. To prevent wasps from entering your home, keep doors and windows closed or screened. Repair any large openings in the exterior of your home and be sure to inspect the eaves for possible points of entry. Keep garage and storage shed doors closed when they are not being used. Wasps can be aggressive if aggravated and will swarm in a group and sting anything that is moving once their nest has been disturbed. Wasps stings burn and cause some swelling and in some allergic cases anaphylactic shock. Look around window, eves, door and shrubs for common paper wasps nest and contact a pest control professional to remove any nest located near your home.

YELLOW JACKETS
Yellow jackets get their name from their yellow and black bodies. , They measure between 1/2-inch and one inch in length. Most yellow jackets are black and yellow, although some may exhibit white and black coloration. In contrast to the bee, the yellow jacket's waist is thin and defined. Their elongated wings are as long as the body and fold laterally when at rest.
Known to be aggressive defenders of their colonies, yellow jackets are otherwise not quick to sting. The sting of a yellow jacket is painful and each insect is capable of delivering multiple stings. Yellow jacket stings may induce severe allergic reactions in some individuals.
Many yellow jackets are ground-nesters. Their colonies can be found under porches or steps, in sidewalk cracks, around railroad ties, or at the base of trees. Sometimes the queen finds an abandoned rodent burrow to use as a nesting place. Some yellow jackets build aerial nests in bushes or low-hanging branches or in the corners of buildings and other man-made structures.
A colony may contain a thousand workers by fall. All of the workers are sterile females. In late summer males will begin to appear. When they become adults, they will mate with the females that will become the next year's queens. The fertilized females will hibernate through the winter. The workers and the males will perish when the weather turns cold.
Yellow jackets are pollinators and may also be considered beneficial because they eat beetle grubs, flies and other harmful pests. However, they are also known scavengers who eat meat, fish and sugary substances, making them a nuisance near trash receptacles and picnics.

SCORPIONS
Scorpions are nocturnal feeders and survive on a diet of insects, spiders, centipedes and other scorpions by using their front claws (pedipalps) and stinger. It also possesses sensory hairs that are used for detecting the vibrations of a possible snack. In attack, these scorpions will grab their prey with their claws, and sting only if the victim shows signs of resistance. scorpion's venom may cause symptoms like swelling at the site of the sting. However, some people experience numbness, and convulsions. In extreme cases, some people may experience difficulty in breathing
Scorpions are active during the night, although they can also be seen during the day where it is cool and moist. Scorpions feed on insects and other arthropods, vertebrates like snakes, small lizards, and mice. They are able to detect their prey via their sensing vibrations.
Scorpions are known for hiding and waiting for their prey. They crush their prey or inject it with venom - a complex mixture of neurotoxins that can affect the victim's nervous system. Although the venom is used to capture prey, it can also be used as a defensive tool. Most scorpions hide under logs, rocks, boards, and clutter. Some, such as the Bark Scorpion, rest on vertical surfaces like trees, bushes, and walls. Sometimes they can be found in a shoe.

PANTRY PEST

WEEVILS

There are many types of weevils that annoy us by getting into our
foods and making a mess of our pantry’s. Here are just a few.
Many of these we bring home from the grocery store in our dry
goods such as, pre packaged foods, cereals, pastas, flower, rice, beans, bird seed and out dry pet foods. These little beetles do much damage to our wallets.

BOLL WEEVIILS
The boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) is a type of beetle that is known to cause severe damage to cotton crops. The boll weevil measures an average length of six millimeters. It feeds on the buds and flowers of the cotton plant.

FLOUR WEEVILS
Wherever flour is present, the beetle known as the flour weevil follows. Rather than whole grains, this beetle can only digest flour. These beetles are not actually weevils

RICE WEEVILS
While it is true that the rice weevil is harmless in itself, it hurts human beings on a larger magnitude by compromising food supplies. What it lacks in stinging or biting, it makes up for in causing destruction on a potentially massive scale.

BEAN WEEVILS
Acanthoscelides obtectus is the scientific name of the bean weevil, the farmers' scourge. Technically, they belong to the cadre of seed beetles and are not true weevils.

WHEAT WEEVILS
Commonly called the granary weevil, the Sitophilus granarius, or wheat weevil, holds notoriety for its destructive potential in agriculture. Historically, it is known as one of the most formidable pests.

MOTHS Most moth species are nocturnal in nature. While some are harmless and others are known to be beneficial for their silk and nutritional value, most moths and caterpillars are considered nuisance pests. A few, including the Io moth, the Saddleback caterpillar moth and the Southern flannel moth, are more sinister because the larvae can sting. Particularly in agricultural communities, some moth and caterpillar populations cause severe damage.
Some moth larvae are known to consume cotton, tomatoes and corn. These larvae are commonly referred to as cotton bollworms, tomato fruitworms and corn earworms. Some moth species are also known to eat fabrics made from natural fibers, such as wool and silk.

ANNOYING PEST

THRIPS
5,000 species of thrips have been identified and they vary in size, though most measure approximately one millimeter in length.
Because their feeding habits destroy a number of commercial crops, thrips are considered especially problematic in agricultural communities. They are known to proliferate quickly and swarm heavily in areas with crops. Thrips do invade homes and some species have been known to bite humans. If thrips populations are not controlled, affected flowering plants may lose their ability to produce.

SPRINGTAILSSpringtails are tiny insects. Their size ranges from 1/32” to 1/8”. They get their name from a spring-like structure, called the furcula. It is located on the back of their abdomen. It is normally curled under the body. When the insect is disturbed, it unfolds the furcula instantly. This causes the insect to jump. One jump can cover three or four inches.
Springtails normally live in damp soil. They eat mold and fungus. They are common in flowerbeds, under logs, paving stones, and landscape timbers. Woodpiles are also a common place for springtails to hide.
Springtails lose water through the surface of their body. If their environment becomes dry, they try to migrate to a wetter place. They enter homes under door thresholds. When they get inside, they go to humid areas. It is normal to find springtails in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. They also find areas where there has been a moisture problem. Springtails have been found inside walls where a pipe has been leaking. They have also been found in furniture that has become wet and mildewed. Potted plants and planter boxes are also places where springtails live.
Springtails do not bite or sting people. They do not damage buildings or the contents. They develop quickly. It is common to find springtails in very large numbers. The fact that there can be thousands of jumping insects in an area can be very distressing to homeowners.

CENTIPEDES
Centipedes may enter houses and buildings, but they do not roam during daytime. They hide in damp areas around bathrooms, closets, basements and other sites typically infested by pests. Although centipedes may help homeowners get rid of insects like cockroaches and houseflies, large species could produce bites that are as painful as bee stings. Some centipedes can run quickly when disturbed. When they are handled, centipedes may bite, causing severe pain, numbness, discoloration and inflammation.

MILLIPEDES Millipedes are Common North American species are brownish, one to 1 - 1/2 inches long; segmented, with 2 pairs of legs per segment. They like Damp and decaying wood and plant matter. Their eggs are deposited in the soil; most species reach sexual maturity in the second year, and live several years after that.

EARWIGS There are more than twenty species of earwigs in the United States. Depending on the species, adults range in size from ¼” to 1”. They are slender insects with two pair of wings. Some species produce a foul smelling liquid that they use for defense. Earwigs also produce a pheromone (scent). Scientists believe that this pheromone is the reason that earwigs cluster together in large numbers. Immature earwigs (nymphs) resemble the adults except they do not have wings. Earwigs frighten many people because of the pincers on the back of their abdomens. Earwigs use these pincers for defense and for catching prey. Earwigs are active at night. During the day they hide in cracks in damp areas. They live under rocks and logs and in mulch in flowerbeds. Earwigs eat plants and insects.

RODENTS

MICE Mice are pesky little critters that can enter your home through small holes or gaps under windows and doors. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel. The common house mice have an adult body length (nose to base of tail) of 7.5–10 cm (3.0–3.9 in) and a tail length of 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in). The weight is typically 10–25 g (0.4–0.9 oz). They vary in colour from white to grey, and light brown to black. They have short hair and a light belly. The ears and tail have little hair.House mice thrive under a variety of conditions: they are found in and around homes and commercial structures as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. House mice consume and contaminate food meant for humans, pets, livestock, or other animals. In addition, they often cause considerable damage to structures and property. They can transmit pathogens that cause diseases such assalmonellosis, a form of food poisoning.Mice are afraid of rats, which often kill and (partially) eat them.

RATS

Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. Rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter! Rats are typically distinguished from mice by their size; rats are generally large muroid rodents, while mice are generally small muroid rodents.Some field rats have been reported to be the size of house cats. Wild rats carry many different diseases that are transferred to humans. The best-known rat species are the black rat and the brown rat.

Rodents cary man diseases such as, rat-bite-fever, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, a virus that poses a particular risk for pregnant women and leptospirosis,(Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs. Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases.Leptospirosis is confirmed by laboratory testing of a blood or urine sample.)

Deer mice transmit the virus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, (Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease from rodents. Humans can contract the disease when they come into contact with infected rodents or their urine and droppings. HPS was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States. Although rare, HPS is potentially deadly. Rodent control in and around the home remains the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus infection).